Stolen Rockwell work found in Spielberg's collection

Rockwell work stolen decades ago in St. Louis found in Spielberg’s collection
DAISY NGUYEN
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A Norman Rockwell work stolen from suburban St. Louis more than three decades ago was found in Steven Spielberg’s art collection, the FBI announced Friday.

The painting, Rockwell’s â€œRussian Schoolroom,â€ was snatched during a late-night burglary at a gallery in Clayton, Mo., on June 25, 1973. The Oscar-winning filmmaker purchased the painting in 1989 from a legitimate dealer and didn’t know it was stolen until last week, the FBI said in a statement.

Spielberg’s staff alerted federal authorities, and an FBI agent and an art expert inspected the painting at one of Spielberg’s offices and confirmed its authenticity Friday morning. Early FBI estimates put the painting’s value at $700,000, officials said.

A message left with Spielberg’s publicist was not immediately returned.

The oil-on-canvas painting shows children in a classroom with a bust of communist leader Vladimir Lenin. Spielberg is cooperating with the FBI and will retain possession of the Russian Schoolroom until its â€œdisposition can be determined,â€ the bureau said.

Too bad it didn't happen this way: Rene Russo bagged his key, had her people make a copy, snuck in while SS was away, absconded with the pilfered painting and walked into the LAPD to the applause of a bunch of horny detectives ... That would have been much more interesting than Spielberg's people calling the feds.